More legislative frustration: “Mailbox Full”

A reader called my attention to another frustrating incident. After preparing testimony on a bill coming up for hearing, an attempt to submit the testimony was rejected because the committee’s mailbox was full. Here’s the error message.

HTHtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov
The recipient’s mailbox is full and can’t accept messages now. Microsoft Exchange will not try to redeliver this message for you. Please try resending this message later, or contact the recipient directly.

Here’s what the reader had to say about the experience:

This is truly frustrating. I’ve taken the time to prepare testimony, and I can’t even submit it because the committee’s mailbox is full. (In addition to the direct email method, I tried the online method as well.) I wonder if other people are coming across this with other committees.

Anyone else run into this problem or was it an unusual event?

Meanwhile, I heard back from Dave Washburn, clerk for the House Agriculture Committee chaired by Rep. Jessica Wooley. Amendments to one of their hearing agendas was cited as an example of missed deadlines for posting of public notices in a post here on Sunday.

Dave said they were trying hard to make the key deadlines, and he believed those hearing notices had been filed well in advance of the deadline.

We’re comparing notes to try to determine where the apparent delay and missed deadline occurred. It’s good to know they are as concerned as we are to find the problem and get it fixed.

Thanks for posting this, Ian. I am the “reader” and did send my testimony to the chair and vice chair. I was told the online problem was probably related to the full mailbox as well. The problem was fixed shortly before lunch.

That’s so typical of the Hawaii Way of Government. Just like when you try to use an elevator at the state Capitol and there’s a sign on it that says “Private Elevator.” This is the freaking state capitol building we’re talking about! Democracy is not a haole affectation, people.

To add insult to injury, the chair of the committee indicated I was in support of the measure (I opposed it) when he was going through the testimonies during the hearing. That’s okay I thought, it could be a mistake.

However, testimonies have been posted online for several days, and my testimony is not there. This happened several times last year as well. I have a call into the committee clerk.